Azikiwe varsity organises training for 7000 students in entrepreneurship

The management of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) Awka has organized training for no fewer than 7000 fresh students in leadership and entrepreneurship programme.The Dean Students Affairs of the institution, Prof Stanley Udedi said in Awka that resource persons including captains of industries, politicians and Director Chike Okoli Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies, Professor Ngozi Anyikwa briefed the students on various topics during the training.

According to the Dean, the event which took place at the Basil Oli Hostel, had the theme: ‘Leadership and Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Education’, pointing out that the fresh students were exposed to diverse topics, ranging from acquiring entrepreneurial skills while in school, and encouraged the freshmen to take advantage of Chike Okoli Centre’s capacity as a foremost skill acquisition centre to build themselves as creators of labour.

Prof Udedi said they were warned not to tow lazy path considering the high unemployment situation in the country, just as he highlighted some of the measures put in place to ensure that students remain the primary focus of the university.

He added: “One of such measures included inauguration of a Student Education Endowment Fund to help indigent students that can’t afford their tuition or living expenses, with the hope they pay back when they graduate and are gainfully employed”.He commended the NAU Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of the event, Prof. Joseph Eberendu Ahaneku, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academics, Prof Charles Esimone for their support to make the event worthwhile.

While inaugurating a committee that would look into how such funds will be sourced and administered in a sustainable way, Prof Udedi further reiterated his commitment to ensuring that students study in a friendly environment that is devoid of harassment whilst their needs are promptly responded to.The Vice- Chancellor of Unizik Prof. Joseph Eberendu Ahaneku, in his opening remark expressed delight at the huge turnout of students and commended the students for being the lucky few to be admitted out of thousands of candidates that applied to the University.